A community group set up to bring about changes to Appleby horse fair has criticised the rescheduled date of next year’s event.
Last week the multi-agency strategic co-ordinating group, which facilitates the fair, announced the 2022 event will begin on 9th June, later than the usual date, in a bid to avoid it clashing with the Queen’s jubilee celebrations.
However, the Appleby Fair Communities Group has issued an open letter to MASCG arguing it should instead be held in the weeks before the traditional first Thursday in June start date.
The letter states: “It was largely accepted that a date prior to its usual date would be far more beneficial to all, the Gypsy Romany Travelling (GRT) community could come earlier than usual and the usual fair clean up would all be done before the jubilee celebrations began.
“MASCG, as the strategic co-ordinating group for the event, are aware that visitors arrive in advance and leave abruptly, therefore an earlier date would have reduced the risk of impacting any community jubilee celebrations.
“The date chosen will almost certainly mean that attendees will be in the area over this weekend, especially in the surrounding villages.
“Unfortunately, our voices through our councillors on MASCG were clearly not loud enough, as the decision was made to hold the fair the week after the jubilee.
“This has angered local residents, many from villages outside Appleby especially, that feel they have been ignored and now are unable to make any plans to celebrate this once in a lifetime celebration.
“Had the decision been made to hold the fair before the jubilee, this would have gone a long way to rebuild the broken relationship between the local community and the GRT community, as many local residents feel that they had to compromise last year when they lost their annual agricultural show but Appleby horse fair was postponed and rearranged.”
The letter says the local community “wants answers from MASCG” about why local opinion has, they feel, been ignored.
“Why didn’t local requests carry more weight or get priority? Why are the rights of the GRT community put before the local community again?”
MASCG has been asked to clarify what measures will be put in place to prevent early arrivals and address criticism made of the authorities’ handling of this in previous years, including the police response.
Les Clark, chairman of MASCG, responsed: “The MASCG’s principle objective is the preparation, delivery and co-ordination of an overall multi-agency operational plan to ensure that the horse fair is safe and enjoyable for all concerned.
“A revised date for the 2022 fair was discussed at length and took into consideration the views of all those involved in the MASCG, including those of the local settled communities, as expressed through their elected representatives and at a recent public meeting.
“The new date has the full support of the MASCG and represents a compromise between the rights of people to travel and gather for the fair and avoiding the extended bank holiday weekend, so that local communities can enjoy the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations.
“The tradition of holding the fair in the first week of June was a significant factor in the MASCG’s discussions and one of the key elements in determining the date of 9th June was to be as close as possible to the traditional date to discourage people coming early in order to hold to this tradition.
“MASCG is aware that people travelling before the fair is an issue of concern in the local settled community and this was also considered.
“As a result, the MASCG has committed to engage with local communities about their plans for jubilee celebrations and will put measures in place to help ensure those celebrations can go ahead, without disruption.
“Illegal encampments will be identified by patrols of council and police officers, which will begin in the weeks before the fair, and will be controlled under the existing encampment policy.
“In order to prevent people arriving early to reassert the traditional dates of the fair, a delegation from the Gypsy and Traveller community will also attend the fair field on June 8, which is traditionally the last day of the fair.”
